When you burn a piece of wood, you start with wood and oxygen, and end up with ashes, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. At no time during the reaction does wood reappear, even momentarily, from the ashes. Most chemical reactions are like this; they move in one direction, from reactants (starting chemicals) to products. In this chemistry science project, you will experiment with a rare and exotic reaction that oscillates. The reaction products appear and disappear for a number of cycles. Because…
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Chem_p097

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

A class in chemistry would be helpful, but is not required.

Material Availability

You will need to order the Oscillating Chemical Reaction Kit online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.

The iodine clock reaction is a favorite demonstration reaction in chemistry classes. Two clear liquids are mixed, resulting in another clear liquid. After a few seconds, the solution suddenly turns dark blue. The reaction is called a clock reaction because the amount of time that elapses before the solution turns blue depends on the concentrations of the starting chemicals. In this chemistry science fair project, you will explore factors that affect the rate of the iodine clock reaction.
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Chem_p091

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

You should be attending or already have taken an introductory chemistry class. This science fair project requires careful attention to detail and will involve some creative problem solving and independent research on your part.

Material Availability

You will need to order a chemical kinetics kit online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.

Cost

Average ($50 - $100)

Safety

Wear safety goggles when working with all chemicals. Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to hands and eyes. Wear splash goggles and gloves when handling acids.

The rates of some chemical reactions can actually be increased by adding light. Light sometimes interacts with one or more of the chemicals and provides an "energy boost" that dramatically speeds up a normally slow reaction. In this photochemistry science project, you will experiment with the effect of light on a chemical reaction. The reaction converts iodine, which forms a dark-orange solution, to iodide, which is colorless!
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Chem_p095

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

An introductory chemistry class.

Material Availability

You will need basic lab equipment, which can be ordered online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.

Cost

Average ($50 - $100)

Safety

Gloves and safety goggles are required. Oxalic acid is toxic and an irritant. Avoid breathing oxalic acid dust and avoid contact with skin. Ammonia is an irritant. Iodine is also an irritant and stains clothes and skin. Adult supervision is required.

Have you ever had a refreshing bath using a bath bomb? A bath bomb is several ingredients mixed and molded into a shape, which becomes fizzy when it touches the water. It can be quite a relaxing experience, especially if your bath bomb has a nice fragrance or includes some bath salts. The fizz is the result of a chemical reaction taking place between different ingredients within the bath bomb. In this science project, you will get to make your own homemade bath bombs and explore how changing…
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Chem_p105

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Ingredients for making bath bombs are required to do this science project. See the Materials section for details. Note that the time required for this science project includes shipping and handling time.

In this project, you'll learn how to isolate DNA from onion cells, separating it from other cellular components in a manner that still preserves its structure and sequence. In the end, you'll have enough DNA to see with the unaided eye, and you'll be able to spool it to demonstrate its strand-like structure.
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BioChem_p001

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

Use caution when handling ethanol because it is very flammable. Adult supervision is recommended for using the stove and a food processor or blender.

Have you ever tasted a delicious burger and wondered how it got so much flavor? Maybe you have heard your family talk about marinating foods before cooking or grilling them. A marinade is a mixture of seasonings used to flavor or tenderize food. Most cooks have strong opinions about the best way to marinate their favorite food, be it a large steak or a tofu burger. In this cooking and food science fair project, you will run controlled tests to see what factors are most important in making a…
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FoodSci_p043

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Time Required

Short (2-5 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

Adult supervision is required. Use caution and ask an adult to help you use the knife.

Which type of orange juice has the most vitamin C? In this science project, you will learn how to measure the amount of vitamin C in a solution using an iodine titration method. You will compare the amount of vitamin C in three different types of orange juice: homemade, premium not-from-concentrate, and orange juice made from frozen concentrate. Which do you think will have the most vitamin C?
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Chem_p044

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

Material Availability

Titration equipment and supplies are needed. A kit is available from the . See the Materials tab for details.

Cost

High ($100 - $150)

Safety

Adult supervision required. Concentrated iodine is poisonous if swallowed. Read and follow all safety guidelines in the Procedure. More information is available from the iodine .

The clothes you wear are made of fibers that come from many different sources. Some fabrics are made from natural fibers, and some from manufactured or totally synthetic fibers. In this science fair project, you will explore how different fiber types react with dye.
Are you dye-ing to find out which works best?
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Chem_p019

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Specialty items: fiber-reactive dye and soda ash are necessary. See the Materials and Equipment list for more details.

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

Safety goggles and rubber gloves are needed for some steps. See the Procedure for more details. Additionally, items that come in contact with soda ash should not be used with food afterward. See the Materials for more details.

Are oranges highest in vitamin C when they are fresh from the tree (or, in a pinch, the grocery shelf)? Does the amount of vitamin C in an orange change over time, after it has been picked? In this science project, you will find answers to these questions by measuring the amount of vitamin C in a solution using an iodine titration method.
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Chem_p043

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

Ideally you would have your own citrus tree with ripe fruit for this science project. The second-best option is to use citrus fruit from a store.

Material Availability

Titration equipment and supplies are needed. A kit is available at the . See the Materials tab for details.

Cost

High ($100 - $150)

Safety

Adult supervision required. Concentrated iodine is poisonous if swallowed. Read and follow all safety guidelines in the Procedure. More information is available from the iodine .

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